Were these babies separated at birth or what? In all my years of playing games, up until now I can't think of a single one that focused so heavily on the use of psychic powers in an action game (providing you don't count every Star Wars game ever made), and yet suddenly out of nowhere we have two released barely months apart. Not only are the underlying premises nearly identical, but on a practical level they also play similarly too. Coincidence?
Now that I think about it, comparisons to the Jedi Knight series are perhaps the best way to describe these games. Sure, they are wrapped up in modern day, military plotlines, accompanied with machine gun fire and big explosions, but when all's said and done, you're essentially just using The Force to smash your way through endless waves of grunts, level after level. Out of this pair of identical twins though, which is more worthy of your money?
What Am I Thinking?
Actually I'd say both are pretty damn decent games - the choice boils more down to you as an individual. They both feature impressive real-time physics engines, allowing you to pick up and move items in real-time, colliding and knocking stuff over in the process. They also both feature amnesia as a central plot-point, accompanied with flashback levels that fill in the blanks. Additionally they both play from the familiar third person perspective and are cross platform titles for the three big consoles of our time. So far, so similar.
Where they differ though is more in their respective stories and atmosphere than anything else, and it's here that I feel Second Sight takes the lead.
Psi-Ops (aka The Mindgate Conspiracy) goes for a much more cold, dark industrial feel than the former. Eerie corridors, metal pipes, and under lit laboratories are abundant, coupled with the more one dimensional (slightly lamer) militaristic plot, and it's just not quite as tantalizing as what Second Sight offers.
I'd say overall, the psychic powers in Psi-Ops are also centred more around causing direct harm than in Second Sight, with the ability to blow up enemy's heads and engulf them in fireballs being prime examples. If mayhem and destruction are your game, Psi-Ops could be the one for you.
Style Over Violence
Not me though. I always chose the light side in Jedi Knight, and similarly I enjoy Second Sight's slightly more light-hearted atmosphere, powers and comic book presentation.
That's not to say you can't play an evil psychopath here too - really the only limits in either game are what kind of crazy uses you can conjure up for the engaging physics engines. Overall though, I would say Second Sight's powers are a little less aggressive and little more stealth orientated. Instead of blowing up people's faces, you'll merely be throwing 'em head first through windows. I guess it's all pretty subjective.
It's in terms of narrative that Second Sight impresses most though. There are interesting, well realised characters, beautiful in-engine cut scenes, and some rather stunning voice acting all driving the game.
While Psi-Ops' more gritty science fiction style feels somewhat cramped by its average graphics, Second Sight kind of embraces this and goes for a more simplistic cartoony feel in comparison. It's hyper stylised, very colourful, and skillfully animated. The end difference is that the Second Sight universe is a gorgeous place that I enjoy visiting over and over, whereas the Psi-Ops world is horribly dark and oppressive, and really just reinforces the need for me to push on and escape this urine soaked hell hole much like my character wants to.
Whoever Wins...We Win
Whichever you pick though, you're bound for fun either way. These games are all about the physics, and in that respect they both shine. The feeling of picking up dead bodies and ramming them into walls is just too delicious for words, and there's nothing like seeing glass smash and boxes go flying as debris in a big arse fire fight.
Physics have been seeing an increased presence in games recently, and it was only a matter of time until we started seeing titles tie its use more directly into the plotline like this.
If you wanna go on a murderous rampage with your brain ironically switched off, Psi-Ops will probably be a dream come true. If however, you want engaging characters, an interesting plot, and ball drainingly delicious graphics, I'd go for Second Sight. It's without doubt the best fun you can have running around as a naked bald man.
How do you like them apples, Hitman: Contracts?
This review/report was created by the great team at TPSreport.co.uk:
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